Building Community Beyond Your Inner Circle: Practical Practices

Navigating the realities of relationships

By: Dr. Debranetta, Mom, Strategist, Researcher, Chief of Staff

A hard truth we must navigate is the notion that not everyone has the capacity to “rejoice with those who rejoice” – Romans 12:15. The mindset needed when faced with these circumstances is one of emotional maturity. Emotional maturity is what enables you to process these moments without letting them harden your heart. When someone you love cannot celebrate you, it’s easy to default to hurt, anger, or even withdrawal. But emotional maturity challenges you to pause and reframe. In today’s blog post, I am sharing three practical ways to navigate these types of situations and three ways to build community beyond your inner circle.

Your Mindset is Your Responsibility

In my last blog post, I shared five mindset shifts that you can develop when those close to you choose not to celebrate with you. Today, I will add the importance of grace to the advice. When we show others grace, to me, it helps release some of the burden of the situation. Showing grace to others helps us in the end.

To quickly recap the five mindsets, they are:

1. Release the Need for Approval
2. Separate Care from Capacity
3. Embrace Abundance Thinking
4. Expand Your Circles Intentionally
5. Stay Rooted in Your Why

Your mindset is your responsibility to manage, not theirs. Just like their lack of capacity (be it intentional or otherwise) is not your responsibility, it’s theirs.

Practical Practices: Navigating Relationships

Here are 3 practical ways to navigate the reality that some close people won’t celebrate your growth:

Create Safe Sharing Zones

Be selective about where and with whom you share your wins. Protect your joy by confiding in people who have proven they can celebrate you without comparison or subtle shade. I am not suggesting that anyone shrinks or hides their blessings; it’s stewardship over your peace.

Redefine Relationship Roles

Not every relationship needs to be an “all access pass.” You can love someone, but keep certain parts of your evolving journey separate. Adjust expectations and boundaries so the relationship can still be healthy without inviting them into your wins.

Invest in Growth-Centered Communities

Seek to join spaces where progress is normal and celebrated. This can include online or social groups, professional associations, faith-based groups, or interest clubs. These communities can replenish the encouragement and perspective that your immediate circle may not provide.

Enlarge the Place of Your Tent (Isaiah 54:2)

Here are 3 ways to build relationships beyond your close circle:

Step Into New Spaces With Intention

Don’t wait for connections to come to you. Don’t be afraid to find spaces where people who share your values, interests, or goals already gather. When you show up consistently, you naturally create opportunities for authentic bonds.

Cultivate One-on-One Connections

It’s not enough to just meet people. When building relationships, meaningful ones, you have to follow up. Invite someone for coffee, schedule a virtual chat, or send a thoughtful message after an initial interaction. Depth in relationships often comes from intentional follow-through, not surface-level introductions.

Be a Giver First

Approach new relationships with a mindset of service, not just “What can I gain?” Share resources, offer encouragement, or make introductions that could benefit someone else. People remember those who pour in without keeping score, and this builds trust and goodwill that often leads to lasting community.

Biblical Wisdom

“Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide,
 do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.

– Isaiah 54:2 (NIV)

Isaiah 54:2 encourages us to step beyond our comfort zones and make room for new relationships and community. Enlarging a tent symbolizes this expansion, while stretching the curtains and lengthening the cords represent reaching out and building connections. Strengthening the stakes reminds us to stay grounded in our faith and values, ensuring that as we grow, we remain anchored. This verse beautifully illustrates the balance between expanding our circles and maintaining a strong foundation that invites and reciprocates support.

To Wrap It Up

I hope this encourages you to be intentional about expanding your circle — not only when your current one feels stagnant, but as a natural part of growth. As we move through different seasons of life, relationship dynamics inevitably shift, and we must be willing to adjust. It’s not about bitterness or resentment; it’s about embracing the wisdom to grow forward with the kind of community that reflects where you are and where you’re going.